The Elders report into Preventing Self-harm & Indigenous suicide. Indigenous youth suicide in Australia has now risen to become one of the highest in the world. In the Kimberley alone there is one attemped Indigenous suicide per week. The percentage of Indigenous suicide has increased from 5% of total suicide in 1991 to 50% in 2010. The most dramatic increase was in youth aged 10 – 24, where the percentage of Indigenous youth suicide increased from 10% in 1991 to 80% in 2010. The suicide incidence in relation to gender shows that 91 per cent of Indigenous suicides were male victims and 9% female victims from 2000–2005. The relationship changed in the 2006–2010 period, with 82% male and 18% female, with half the female suicides under the age of 17 years, an emerging trend. “Girls now account for a previously unheard of 40 per cent of all suicides of children under the age of 17 – an unprecedented rate in Northern Territory indigenous communities. The proportion of indigenous girls committing suicide in the Territory is now the highest in the Western world.” Dr Howard Bath, Children’s Commissioner for the Northern Territory, February 2012. Non-existent 20 years ago, it is now a social issue that is tearing communities and families apart across remote, regional and urban Aboriginal Australia. Survival of traditional cultural life in these Communities is now at crossroads, urgent action is needed. Government approaches to Aboriginal mental health are not working. Communities are calling out to be heard, and for community-led solutions to be supported. The Elders and Community leaders understand many of the causes behind the self harm and suicide phenomenon and are asking to lead in the healing process of their people. The Culture is Life campaign has been spearheaded by Indigenous Elders to create a solutions-based report (film, photography and written) on community perspectives for preventing, and ultimately ending, Indigenous youth suicide. 32 Elders from across Australia were chosen by their Communities to be involved in the report. The Elders healing solutions have been recorded and directly transcribed to build the report (there are no non-Indigenous voices within this report). Funds are now needed to design, print and distribute the report to all members of the State and Federal parliament as well as key stakeholders in the medical, academic and legal communities. The report features a foreword by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mr Mick Gooda and Introduction by Prof Pat Dudgeon, Co chair Aboriginal Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Advisory Group, Commissioner National Mental Health Commission. http://www.cultureislife.org – See more at: http://startsomegood.com/Venture/culture_is_life/Campaigns/Show/culture_is_life_elders_report#sthash.KUrFM9aq.dpuf

Remember that Nelson Mandela was considered a terrorist by many during his lifetime, as someone who fought against
– apartheid – white supremacy – racism – colonialism – forced relocation of South African Natives from their own homelands – laws restricting South African Natives to reserves encompassing only 7% of the agricultural land – a pass system for blacks going into “white areas” of South Africa – the extreme underfunding of the education of black children compared to that of white children by the South African government
and someone who believed in
– the self-determination of African nations – the necessity of civil disobedience and armed resistance against the violent oppression of a people when other avenues have failed
Never ignore the reality or deny the legitimacy of how oppressed people are forced to fight for their basic human dignity against colonial governments, historically and presently.
Sources: http://bit.ly/1aEjHiH

3.45pm WST – It seems asylum seekers have been found on shore at Christmas Island. The Shire President (Gordon Thompson) is reporting that the vessel sank on Monday, that there are around 30 people involved and that, as yet, there are no reports of deaths.

I have just seen a tweet from Oliver Laughland of the Guardian Australia that “Those on board have been living on a remote beach for the past 3 days. 8/9 were found by police wondering up a main road on CI earlier today”

The West Australian is reporting that, “A group of Burmese asylum seekers appears to have arrived on Christmas Island undetected. Christmas Island residents said a group of asylum seekers had been been discovered wandering on a remote road on the eastern part of the island this afternoon. They claimed to have arrived on the island on Moday when their boat came ashore at the remote Dolly Beach. Another larger group had remained behind at the beach while others went for help. They said there had been no fatalities.“

Later in that same report was the following wich seems to indicate a second vessel!

A man identified as Chris said he had heard a boatload of Sri Lankan asylum seekers had run aground on Greta Beach. “Apparently their boat has wrecked,” he told Macquarie Radio. “The Navy have raced over there. I heard the situation was quite bad.” He said the beach was small and surrounded by extremely high cliffs. It’s believed the boat arrived about 11am.”

Different beach – three days or a few hours? One boat or Two?

UPDATE

Herr ÜberGrossenFührer Morrison has broken his “no information” rule and announced that there has been an incident on the South East Coast of Christmas Island. To me that sounds like a sinking or a boat which has run aground on the rocks.The same thing happened in December 2010. Surely, with the increased and much touted surveillance our new “Border Protection” has brought to the area, no Asylum Seeker vessel could make it that close to the Island without being spotted! There is some incompetence shown here and I do hope it has not cost any lives.

Sue and I had been watching a sudden flurry of movement by HMAS Larrakia and an unknown vessel up and down the East Coast of Christmas Island and wondering at the reason. We suspected an unexpected arrival but did not dream that the Minister would be telling us so quickly.

Further updates will be made as available.

This Morning

Yahoo Australian News is reporting that “Another asylum vessel has arrived on Christmas Island – the third to make it to Australia since Indonesia said it would end all cooperation on people smuggling. Officials on Christmas Island say a vessel carrying about 60 people was intercepted last night. The passengers have been transferred at sea to a larger border protection vessel.” (Thanks Sue)

The “larger Border Protection Vessel” is probably ACV Ocean Protector which explains why she has hidden herself from the Live Marine Traffic sites. The question is, “Will these people be landed before 9am EST tomorrow so that they can be included in tomorrow’s press conference”?

Reports are that there are still around ten boats out there heading towards Christmas Island.

FURTHER UPDATE:

3.45pm WST – It seems asylum seekers have been found on shore at Christmas Island. The Shire President (Gordon Thompson) is reporting that the vessel sank on Monday, that there are around 30 people involved and that, as yet, there are no reports of deaths.

I have just seen a tweet from Oliver Laughland of the Guardian Australia that “Those on board have been living on a remote beach for the past 3 days. 8/9 were found by police…

In Kenya, over 500,000 refugees take shelter at Dadaab Refugee Camp, making it the largest camp of its kind in the world. However, the camp’s massive size does not come close to the extraordinary strength, determination and courage of its people.Meet 18 year old Koswar Asad Warsame. Like many young girls around the world, she loves poetry. In the videos below, Koswar reads her extraordinary original poetry – poems of both empowerment and sorrow.

Food and medicine are not weapons of war. Support the hunger strike of Qusai Zakarya by demanding safe passage of food and medicine convoys into Moadamiya and other blockaded cities in Syria. …. to read more click on PRESS RELEASE